Zeinab Badawi

And everybody knows about ancient Egypt, yet nobody knows about the ancient northern Sudanese, you know, the kings and queens of Kush. But I think As the great Swiss archaeologist Charles Bonnet said, there will come a time when pseudonology will be as famous as Egyptology because it's a story that's just been unearthed. But the harsh climate,

the instability in the country, the lack of resources, means that we haven't really excavated the exciting history that just lies under the sand dunes and elsewhere in northern Sudan. But it's an amazing history and it's one which really touched me.

the instability in the country, the lack of resources, means that we haven't really excavated the exciting history that just lies under the sand dunes and elsewhere in northern Sudan. But it's an amazing history and it's one which really touched me.

the instability in the country, the lack of resources, means that we haven't really excavated the exciting history that just lies under the sand dunes and elsewhere in northern Sudan. But it's an amazing history and it's one which really touched me.

Of all the countries I visited, of course I would say that because it's the land of my ancestors, but I really think that it's a part of world history which should be better known. And, you know, forgive me for going on about this, Dan, but what I also like about the story of the Kingdom of Kush is it shows you how kingdoms rise and fall.

Of all the countries I visited, of course I would say that because it's the land of my ancestors, but I really think that it's a part of world history which should be better known. And, you know, forgive me for going on about this, Dan, but what I also like about the story of the Kingdom of Kush is it shows you how kingdoms rise and fall.

Of all the countries I visited, of course I would say that because it's the land of my ancestors, but I really think that it's a part of world history which should be better known. And, you know, forgive me for going on about this, Dan, but what I also like about the story of the Kingdom of Kush is it shows you how kingdoms rise and fall.

That today, you know, Sudan may be one of the less developed parts of the world, but In times gone by, it had this, you know, it was a superpower. And also the story of ancient Kut tells you how history is not something that can just be consigned to the past. Of course, history explains our past, but it also explains informs our present and helps shape our future.

That today, you know, Sudan may be one of the less developed parts of the world, but In times gone by, it had this, you know, it was a superpower. And also the story of ancient Kut tells you how history is not something that can just be consigned to the past. Of course, history explains our past, but it also explains informs our present and helps shape our future.

That today, you know, Sudan may be one of the less developed parts of the world, but In times gone by, it had this, you know, it was a superpower. And also the story of ancient Kut tells you how history is not something that can just be consigned to the past. Of course, history explains our past, but it also explains informs our present and helps shape our future.

And I just give you one very small illustration. The people of ancient northern Sudan, of Kush, considered it an abomination to eat fish. They had all this fish in the River Nile, you know, an amazing source of protein, yet they just wouldn't eat it. And to this day, the consumption of fish in northern Sudan is... far lower than many other places in the world.

And I just give you one very small illustration. The people of ancient northern Sudan, of Kush, considered it an abomination to eat fish. They had all this fish in the River Nile, you know, an amazing source of protein, yet they just wouldn't eat it. And to this day, the consumption of fish in northern Sudan is... far lower than many other places in the world.

And I just give you one very small illustration. The people of ancient northern Sudan, of Kush, considered it an abomination to eat fish. They had all this fish in the River Nile, you know, an amazing source of protein, yet they just wouldn't eat it. And to this day, the consumption of fish in northern Sudan is... far lower than many other places in the world.

It is on average one kilogram per person per year. Compare it to Egypt, another land of the Nile, where the average consumption is 25 kilograms per person per year. And it just shows you how, you know, History just continues. And I saw that in so many ways when I was exploring the culture of the Kushites.

It is on average one kilogram per person per year. Compare it to Egypt, another land of the Nile, where the average consumption is 25 kilograms per person per year. And it just shows you how, you know, History just continues. And I saw that in so many ways when I was exploring the culture of the Kushites.

It is on average one kilogram per person per year. Compare it to Egypt, another land of the Nile, where the average consumption is 25 kilograms per person per year. And it just shows you how, you know, History just continues. And I saw that in so many ways when I was exploring the culture of the Kushites.

And I also loved the fact that the queens of Kush also had such a powerful role to play in society. They could govern alongside their husbands and their sons as co-regents. And there were some like Amani Renance, who would actually lead their men into battle. She was known as the one-eyed queen because she lost an eye fighting the Romans. in 30 BCE.

And I also loved the fact that the queens of Kush also had such a powerful role to play in society. They could govern alongside their husbands and their sons as co-regents. And there were some like Amani Renance, who would actually lead their men into battle. She was known as the one-eyed queen because she lost an eye fighting the Romans. in 30 BCE.

And I also loved the fact that the queens of Kush also had such a powerful role to play in society. They could govern alongside their husbands and their sons as co-regents. And there were some like Amani Renance, who would actually lead their men into battle. She was known as the one-eyed queen because she lost an eye fighting the Romans. in 30 BCE.

And in fact, they were forced to in the end sign a peace treaty with her in 22 BCE. So it's just, you know, I can understand why you're fascinated by it, because it really is, you know, the stuff of Hollywood where fact is stranger than fiction. And I do wish that somebody would try and popularize this amazing chapter in African history.